The Phoenix Suns should look like a very different franchise by the time we tip-off for the 2025-26 NBA season. The franchise completely flatlined this season, finishing with a 36-46 record for the No. 11 seed in the West. The Devin Booker, Kevin Durant, and Bradley Beal trio experiment has reached its inevitable conclusion.
The Suns have started cleaning house already, firing head coach Mike Budenholzer earlier today, just one season after hiring him. Shams Charania of ESPN reports that the team is expected to re-tool a winning roster around Booker while working with Durant’s team to help him find a future home.
“This iteration of the team did not work, however, and the franchise is set to retool around Booker.”
“This marks the first action in a summer of change coming to the Suns. Phoenix is expected to engage in trade conversations involving Durant and will have discussions on the future of Beal, according to sources.”
“Multiple teams will seriously pursue Durant, who finished another stellar season, and the franchise is expected to work with Durant and his business partner and Boardroom CEO Rich Kleiman on the next landing spot for the future Hall of Famer.”
Trading Durant is the inevitable next step for the franchise.
There’s no moving forward if they retain Durant, so the forward finding a new home in the summer will likely be one of the biggest storylines. He averaged 26.6 points, 6.0 rebounds, and 4.2 assists this season.
There might not be a lot of drama unless the Suns receive a tempting offer from a team that Durant doesn’t want to go to.
But because the 36-year-old is on an expiring contract without a no-trade clause, it’s in everyone’s best interest if the Suns ensure the future team is one Durant wants, as it could help them net a better trade return with assurances of a contract extension.
Booker is the natural choice to continue leading the team. He’s been with the franchise for a decade and is loved by the city. He’s a true Suns legend, and if there’s any competitive pivot to be had here, Booker is the one they need to do it around.
He averaged 25.6 points, 4.1 rebounds, and 7.1 assists this season. With Bradley Beal stuck on the franchise with limited trade interest and a hefty no-trade clause, it doesn’t look like the Suns have any other routes to rebuild a contending franchise.
Potential Destinations For Kevin Durant
The murmurs of Kevin Durant being traded have been groaning on since the trade deadline when the Suns tried moving him to the Golden State Warriors.
With Durant declining that reunion and the Suns respecting his wishes, it seems they’ll likely send him to one of the following teams that have been reported as potential Durant destinations.
“One thing to keep in mind: back in the NBA trade deadline in February, Minnesota, Miami, New York, San Antonio, and Houston were among the teams. I’m told there was mutual interest between Durant and those teams,” said Charania. “I expect those teams and potentially others to be back in the fray this summer.”
We have already examined how Durant could get to each of these teams with mock trade packages. They’re all plausible teams who could be a Durant acquisition away from contention, but not if they empty out their coffers like the Suns foolhardily did to acquire him, despite the GM James Jones already refusing to accept that offer before Mat Ishbia bought the team.
Other teams, like the Dallas Mavericks, could also be interested come summertime. It’ll be a fascinating trade saga, and it’ll be crucial in determining the future of this franchise.
